Risk Category Standard - Non-Process Fire Ignition

Title Page

Responsibilities

Is the Risk Owner appointed to conduct his/her duties? (WAH Planner, risk assessor.....)
Is the Risk Control Owner appointed to conduct his/her duties? (WAH Planner, risk assessor.....)

Enable and conduct the respective risk assessments for the task (IBRA, PTRA) to specify the risks and precautions to be in place for the task
Conduct a fire assessment as per site requirements or as per in-country legislation.
Develop a detailed rescue plan as per risk assessment.
Have a good housekeeping programme in place for your site to limit the risk of flammable or combustible substances.
Ensure the Standard Operating Procedure is in place where applicable, kept updated and workers are trained on it.
Issue a Permit to Work before work commences where applicable.
Ensure trained and authorised permit issuers and acceptors whoare competent for the work.
Refer to the Confined spaces, High-risk machinery and Explosives riskcategory standards if the work includes anything relevant to these.

Apply ignition source control.
Apply good housekeeping of the area: e.g. no papers, oil rags.
Ensure flammable stores and zones are designated and suitably designed for its contents.
Flame, smoke, gas detectors and/or fire suppressors must be installed where applicable.
Fire fighting equipment of the correct type must be readily available and in working order.
Comply with specialised PPE requirements as per the risk assessment, Permit to Work and rescue plan.
Conduct emergency response as per rescue plan.

Check product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) flash points before work starts.
Reduce the quantities of flammable materials to a minimum as required for uninterrupted operations.
All portable electrical equipment must be registered, and regular inspectionsmust be conducted by a qualified electrician..
All equipment must be earthed under strict control where applicable.
Ensure that there are no combustible materials in proximity of hot work activities such welding, grinding, cutting, cooking.
In potential flammable atmospheres, test atmosphere for flammable gases before and during hot work activities. Examples are in a paint or flammable products store.
Ignition sources must only enter flammable areas under strict control.
Keep designated smoking areas away from combustible materials and smoke only in designated areas.
Use spark-free tools in a combustible area and ensure all sparks are contained.

Store all flammables in a flammable store or clearly demarcated zone.
Identify, segregate and store all flammable and combustible materials according to their flammability and chemical compatibility chart. This information must be part of the SDS.
Ensure the storage is suitable for the products stored within.
Ensure proper ventilation and temperature control in these areas.
Ensure proper containment of the flammable substances.
Follow storage licence capacity requirements as per in-country legislation; the permit must always be available.
Keep flammable material inventory to a minimum, as required for uninterrupted operations. (ALARP)
Flammable stores for liquids or solids must have safety labels that list their name, flammable warning, flash point, and fire point as per a chemical compatibility chart. The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) must be readily available outside the storage area.
Indicate and demarcate all flammable zones (areas, structures and equipment), use applicable signage and adhere to it (e.g. No smoking signs).
No fire or open flames are permitted in proximity or inside of flammable storage areas.
Access control must be used where applicable.
Only flameproof electrical equipment can be used inside the storage areas.
Fire extinguishers must be available and maintained.

All detectors or suppressors must be in good working order and checked for functionality periodically.
All detectors or suppressors must be audible or visual enough to attract attention when activated.

Dry chemical suppression: for furnace rooms, mechanical rooms or areas where flammable liquid is stored.
Wet chemical suppression: forms a vapor foam that prevents materials from re-igniting, mostly used in kitchens.
Carbon dioxide: does not require additional clean up or leave behind a residue, used in computer and archival rooms.
Good practice is to have detectors linked to an automatic fire suppression system in high risk areas.

Class A — ordinary combustible materials such as cloth, plastic, wood, and paper.
Class B — flammable liquids such as paint, oil, and gasoline.
Class C — live electrical equipment and contain specific nonconductive extinguishing agents. Once equipment has been de-energised, a Class A or Class B extinguisher may be used.
Class D — combustible metal alloys and other types of combustible material and contain agents that specifically won’t react with the burning metal.
Class K — cooking media such as grease, animal fats, and oil. They create a soapy foam that holds in steam and vapours to extinguish the fire.
Quantity of fire fighting equipment must be adequate for the fire risk present.
All fire fighting equipment must be highly visible and easily accessible in an emergency.
All fire fighting equipment must undergo inspections and testing as required by in-country legislation
Workers must be trained in the use of fire equipment.
Do not use condemned fire equipment.